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Undergraduate nursing students' computer skills assessment: A study in greece

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HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 (2010)

Undergraduate nursing students’ computer skills assessment: a

study in Greece

Anna Deltsidou 1, Eftihia Gesouli- Voltyraki 1, Dimos Mastrogiannis 2, Maria Noula 3

1. Assistant Professor in Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Lamia

2. Lecturer in Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Lamia
3. Associate Professor in Nursing, Technological Educational Institute of Lamia

Abstract

Background: Information technology (IT) and flexible learning have been gradually implemented
in health science departments. Research data show that nursing students’ experience with IT is
yet to be improved.
The aim of this study was to investigate nursing students’ self reported attitudes on skills in IT
use for study purposes.
Methods: This was a cross-sectional study using a survey design. The study was carried out at a
school of nursing in Central Greece. Three hundred and twenty five students of first, fourth
and fifth semester were enrolled in the study.
Results: Three hundred and ten out of 325 students responded. 55% of the students were
familiar with word processing, while 30 % did not have a PC at home. Two thirds of the students
were not skilful in internet usage and 12 % used electronic databases. High cost was reported as
the main obstacle (34.2%) for low internet penetration in students. Senior students’
competencies were better.
Conclusions: The findings of this study indicate that there was a deficit in students’ IT
competencies. IT should be promptly integrated into the nursing curriculum.

Keywords: Flexible learning, information technology, computer skills, nurses students

Corresponding author:

Anna Deltsidou
Department of Nursing, Technological Educational
Institute, 3rd Km Old National Road of Lamia –
Athens, Lamia, Greece
Tel:+0302231060210,
E-mail: [email protected]

Introduction

W
consequence, health care organizations are
e live in the era of information
becoming more information intensive. On the
technology (IT). Many health care
other hand, the introduction of technology
organizations have adopted policies
and the internet into classrooms has been
favoring the implementation of modern
the most important change in the field of
technology. Computers are used not only for
education in the past 100 years. Both
diagnosis and imaging techniques but also in
students and educators need time to reflect
home care and long –term facilities.1,2 As a
on this changing content and make the

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HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 (2010)

maximum advantage of IT.3 It is important instrument was distributed in student nurses

that nurses are able to demonstrate and completion and return of a questionnaire
competence in the use of IT. It is necessary was interpreted as voluntary consent to
to acquire the basic skills in information participate. The questions were easy to
technology that will allow them to progress understand and it took 8 min to complete.
through their educational program. The The test for internal consistency
computers are expected to play a significant (Cronbach’s Alpha) rendered a score of 0.80,
role in nursing studies. Both educators and demonstrating a satisfactory reliability
students have to be aware of technology coefficient, 6 and the instrument was thus
evolution and must be equipped with skills to considered to be appropriate.
provide learning opportunities via computer For the collection of demographic
to advance students’ knowledge. The data, a different questionnaire was
interest in the so-called flexible learning is developed, including participants’ age,
increasing nowadays and students choice semester, status of employment and
these modes of studies and bear nationality, as well as the educational level
responsibilities in the learning process.4,5 of their parents.
Even though flexible learning is not
depended on technology, the use of Data Collection:Ethical approval was granted
information technologies allow a better by the Institution’s Ethical Committee. The
access to learning material, as well as to researchers had the opportunity to meet
other students and teachers at different with students during their first week in the
times and locations. Without IT classroom.
competencies and confidence in their own The students were given a brief
computer skills, learning and research written research proposal and asked to
opportunities are very limited. The aim of answer all questions. They were told that
this study was to investigate nursing their responses would be kept confidential
student’s self reported attitudes skills in IT and that if they did not wish to participate
use for study purposes. they should feel free to submit a blank
questionnaire. In addition, they were
Methodology promised that as soon as their data had been
entered into the computer along with a code
This was a cross-sectional study using number identifier, their questionnaires
a survey design. The study was carried out at would be disposed of.
a school of nursing in Central Greece. Students of first, fourth and fifth
Following a review of the relevant literature, semester were finally enrolled in the study.
we chose an assessment tool of computer The questionnaire was administered to 325
competences in students developed by students. Three hundred and ten
Honey.4 The survey instrument was used to questionnaires were finally returned (95.3%
determine access to computers and response rate).
communication technology, computer
proficiency (self rated using a 5 point Likert- Statistics
type scale), computer skills, use of the
Institutional library and obstacles to using Statistics was processed by SPSS, 8.0
the Internet. This closed-question v. Descriptive statistics were at first
questionnaire was translated into Greek and FRQGXFWHG ZKLOH Ų2 and Mann –Whitney –U-
back translated by another bilingual expert Test were executed in order to compare
in order to ensure the accuracy of nominal and ordinal data respectively.
translation, after which it was tested on a Percentiles were used to present nominal
group of 20 third-year student nurses near data. Statistical significance was set at 0.05
the end of their training and no problems level.
were recognized with face validity. This

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HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 (2010)

Results PC had a great influence on their computer

A total of 325 students enrolled in the knowledge assessment (Table 3), which in
semester, and 310 completed the survey, general was at low levels. 12.6% (39
giving a response rate of 95.3%. Among them students) reported a very good knowledge on
67.7 % (210 students) were female and 32.3 PC use, and no knowledge at all 4.6 % (14
% (100 students) were male. The large students). Good, efficient and beginner’s
majority of students (90 %) were below 25 knowledge was reported by 30.0% (93
years of age. More specific, 45.8 % (142 students), 27.4% (85 students) and 24.8 % (77
students) were below 20 years old, 44.2% students) respectively, while 0.6 % (2
(137 students) were between 20 and 25, 26 students) gave no answer. Usage of library
to 30 were 3.9% (12 students), 3.2% (10 electronic data bases was poor, limited to
students) were between 31 and 35, 2.6% (8 about 12 % of the students, while the main
students) were between 36-40 and one obstacles to using the internet was the high
student was over 40 years old and 27.7% (86 cost of internet connection and the absence
students) were employed. Half of them had a of PC at home (over 30 %) (Tables 1 & 4).
PC of their own, but internet access was More senior students had an Institution’s web
limited to 30 % (Table 1). account and used the available through the
Institution’s electronic journals (a
Table 1. Frequency of Institution library use by statistically significant difference, p<0.05,
students, access to computer and communication see Table 5). Percentages in tables 1-5 are
Yes
not to be added, as students could give more
N % than one answer. Some students did not
Do you have a PC 173 55.8 complete all the sub-questions.

Do you use Institution's library 137 44.2 Table 2. Students’ specific computer skills
services? Yes
N %
Do you use the available 58 18.7
through the Institution File management
databases?
Do you know how to go from 172 55.5
Do you use the library's 39 12.6 "C" to "A" or "D" in your pc
services via your home? system?
Do you know how to 235 75.8
Do you use the available 37 11.9 organise your files into
through the Institution folders?
electronic journals? Word processing
Do you know how to insert 217 70.0
Do you use the online 41 13.2 page numbers in your text
catalogue? file?
Do you know how to use 220 71.0
Do you have an internet 95 30.6 spelling and grammar tools?
access Do you know how to 173 55.8
organise your references?
Does your PC have a CD Do you know how to print 230 74.2
drive 168 54.2 one page from your file?
Do you know how to use 204 65.8
Does your PC have copy and paste options?
microphones/speakers 157 50.6 e-mail
Do you know how to send 165 53.2
Do you have a VCR for emails?
studying purposes 128 41.3 Do you know how to attach 100 32.3
files to emails?
Do you have a tape recorder 151 48.7
for studying purposes Do you know how to open 128 41.3
Over 55% were in general familiar an attached file?
Using the internet or
with word processing. However, about two world wide web (www)
thirds of them were not skillful in internet Do you know how to use the 179 57.7
usage. The majority of the students knew web to find references?
Do you know how to use 223 71.9
how to use search engines (Table 2). Owing a search engines?

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Table 3. Students’ owing a PC depending on their overall proficiency in computer use

Question: do you have N Beginner Efficient Good p

a PC at home?
Percentiles 25th 50th 75th
Yes 126 Beginner Efficient Good 0.000
No 173 Efficient Good Good

Table 4. Frequency of the main obstacles to using the internet by the students

N %

Can't find what to look for in the internet 26 8.4

Sharing the pc with other family members 28 9.0

Little value of information in the internet regarding my 21 6.8

classes

I don't know how to use it appropriately 55 17.7

Difficulty to have access to a computer at Institution 39 12.6

No access to or printer problems 36 11.6

Already too busy 43 13.9

Fear or concern about using a pc 35 11.3

Lack of typing skills 50 16.1

Time consuming to load files 23 7.4

Cost of the network connection 106 34.2

No pc at home 107 34.5

Other reasons 9 2.9

No barriers 3 1.0

Table 5. Differences in Institutional account acquisition and in library use depending on students’ study
semester

Third semester or Below third semester Total P

above
Web account in Institution Yes 44 20 64 0.007

ȃR 121 121 242

Total 165 141 306

Use of the available through the Yes 29 8 37 0.028

Institution’s electronic journals

ȃR 58 42 100

Total 87 50 137

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HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 (2010)

Discussion In another study in Portugal it was found that

nurses’ knowledge on information technology
New information relevant to nursing was basic and intermediary and acquired
practice doubles every 5 years, indicating a mostly by self teaching.
rapid surge in nursing research. Nevertheless It is possible that the above findings
the percentage of nursing staff that use data reflect the current status in IT penetration in
generated by research is rather small, 7 and, education in Greece, which is still in infancy,
even in developed countries, there is a slow in comparison with the most Western
emergence of nursing informatics in nursing European countries.13 It is remarkable that
curricula.8 approximately 55.6 % of students reported
During the past two decades the that they have not a PC at home, while a 34.
computer training has been integrated into 5 % regarded this fact as an obstacle to using
the curriculum of many upper secondary internet. Indeed, experience with using
schools in Greece.9 However, the findings of computers has been found to influence the
this study suggest that IT competencies of person’s perception of their skill with
nursing students are far behind of flexible computers.14 Access to internet resources at
learning requirements. Computer is at best worksites as well as in institutions, along
seen as an advanced model of typewriter. with training and time for searching is
Students seemed more skilful in word- necessary for the development of skills
processing than in communicating with enabling effective use of information
others via e-mail, especially when messages technology.15 When students were divided
have to be attached. While over 50 % knew into two groups, those who have a PC at
how to send mails, only one out of three home and those who have not, the same
students knew how to attach files to mails. difference occurred in the present study as
Despite the fact that these percentages are well.
far behind those found in other A study in Sweden found that nursing
technologically advanced countries, this students who used computers at home rated
difference is a common finding, indicating themselves as more skilled in using
that familiarity itself is not adequate.4,10, 11 computers.4 In any case the low penetration
Flexible learning demands more skillfulness.4 of internet in Greece is a discouraging
Moreover, it was found that only half of factor. The internet usage in Greece is at
them reported that they knew how to search rather disappointing levels.13 More specific,
the literature. Lack of specific knowledge is and according estimations for the year 2007,
prominent, as a disparity is revealed the penetration in population was 35 %,
between 70 % who answered they know to while in Western and Northern Europe
use search engines and 57 % who report they reached 90 % in some cases with the mean
know how to find references in the web. It is value being over 50 %. This fact could be at
not surprising that library usage was at low least attributable to the high cost of internet
levels. Even though 44 % reported they use connection in Greece, compared with other
the Institution’s library services, less than 15 European countries. It is at least twice as
% use the on line catalogue or the electronic much compared with the average cost in the
journals. Overall the Institution’s library USA and 30 % in the rest of Europe.13, 16 The
services were underutilized by nursing greatest price reduction took place in 2007,
students, since 55% of the students did not so the results are yet to be seen. It is
use the library. Students hardly assess their noticeable that nursing students in other
computer knowledge as intermediary. This surveys rated reasons other than cost as the
finding is reported in other studies as well. most important obstacles in internet usage
According to the study of Griffiths & (approximately 11% ), while inability to find
Ridington, nurses showed limited confidence the requested material came first. This was
and low frequency in using the databases.12 just the opposite picture of the present

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HEALTH SCIENCE JOURNAL ® VOLUME 4, ISSUE 3 (2010)

study and reflects partly the obstacles in Curriculum working group members are
communication facilities that countries in supposed to think about creating a basic
southern Europe face. In Sweden, 66 % of level technology skills test to assess
nursing students had access to internet at students’ level of technology competency at
home,2 while in New Zealand this percentage their admission to the nursing school. In
reached to 93 %.4 addition, educators have to know if today’s
When structured learning activities nursing students are competent of
are integrated into nursing courses, students transferring their current technology skills to
report an enhanced level of comfort in nursing/hospital information systems in
computer technology by completion of the clinical settings or computer technologies
course as compared with the onset.17 Dørup used in institution. The introductory course
studied the availability, usage and attitudes to nursing/healthcare informatics which is
of first semester medical students in already included in curricula of the nursing
Denmark. In the final semester 90% of the studies in Greece does not considered to be
students used e-mail regularly and 60 % had adequate for the students regarding their
access to the internet from home. The study competence in technology skills. Thus,
took place between 1998 and 2002, when introducing a set of technology courses
there was a rapid increase in internet throughout the nursing program of study,
penetration in Denmark.18 with the goal of enhanced preparing students
This survey has highlighted that most for this era of rapidly altering technological
nursing students have not convenient access advancements, is vital. This educational
to computers and information technology for imperative will assist future nurses to exhibit
study purposes. The findings of this study informatics competencies at the point-of
combined with previous research indicate care and assist interested future nurse
the necessity for nursing students to have educators to use appropriate ubiquitous e-
basic skills in IT. This includes familiarity learning tools in classroom settings.
with e-mails, word processing and
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